A deflection wall, also known as a crash wall, is a protective barrier designed to prevent collisions or impacts from derailed trains or other vehicles from directly hitting and compromising primary structural support elements.
Purpose of Deflection Walls
The primary purpose of a deflection wall is to:
- Protect Critical Infrastructure: Prevent damage to load-bearing columns, bridge piers, or other essential structural components.
- Mitigate Head-On Collisions: Redirect the force of an impact to minimize damage and prevent catastrophic failure.
- Enhance Safety: Reduce the risk of injury or loss of life by containing or diverting the impact.
Key Characteristics
- Robust Construction: Typically made of reinforced concrete or steel to withstand significant impact forces.
- Strategic Placement: Positioned to intercept potential collision paths and protect vulnerable structural elements.
- Energy Absorption: Designed to absorb or dissipate energy from an impact, reducing the force transmitted to the protected structure.
Applications
Deflection walls are commonly used in:
- Railways: Protecting bridge supports and other critical infrastructure from train derailments.
- Highways: Preventing vehicles from impacting bridge piers or abutments.
- Industrial Facilities: Shielding sensitive equipment or structures from potential impacts.
Example
Imagine a train bridge supported by concrete columns. Without a deflection wall, a derailed train could directly impact one of these columns, potentially causing the bridge to collapse. A deflection wall, built in front of the column, would absorb the impact, redirect the train, and protect the column from severe damage.
